PHP is the programming language which is used to build the WordPress CMS. It was originally created in 1994, has been developed constantly over the years, and has gone through several major versions. The latest, PHP7, being the most robust and powerful version yet. However, millions of people are still using older, less secure versions of PHP on their servers to power websites.
This raises a few issues for those people. When you run an outdated PHP version, you can’t take advantage of the latest features that have been built into the language, and you’re not protected against security vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers.
This is why it’s super important that you stay up to date with the latest version. It’s also not so straightforward to update your version to a newer one, so that’s where the PHP Upgrade Bar comes in.
What is the PHP Upgrade Bar?
The PHP Upgrade Bar is an opportunity for WordCamp London attendees to get help and advice upgrading to the latest version of PHP.
What can I expect from the PHP Upgrade Bar?
To get the most out of the PHP Upgrade Bar, you will need to bring a laptop with you and have an environment that you’d want to upgrade. This isn’t necessary, but to get the most out of it at the event, it’ll be very handy to have those things ready.
At the PHP Upgrade Bar we will:
- Help you determine what version you’re currently running (if you don’t already know).
- Help you push the update button on your host.
- Revert the upgrade if it breaks something and make notes on what broke (if it’s not something we can sort in a button click or two) so that we can report it to whatever plugin or theme has caused it.
- Ensure you are running the most recent version that your site supports, and hopefully get you up on an actively supported version at the very least.
What else should I know about the Upgrade Bar?
Upgrading PHP can be a tricky task to perform, but with the support of the volunteers—some of which are WordPress Core contributors!—at the PHP Upgrade Bar, you’ll be able to get all the information you need to get your local environment or server running the latest version in no time – note that the upgrading experience will differ depending on the server setup, whether it’s a local installation, or a server that is online already.
The PHP Upgrade Bar will be attended in the Activities Room—here’s the complete schedule:
Saturday 14 April: 9:40 – 11:00
Sunday 15 April: 10:30 – 12:00; and 15:30 – 15:50.
A huge thank you to our PHP Upgrade Bar volunteers, Marius Jensen, Alain Schlesser, Todd Halfpenny, & Felix Arntz.